Page 60 of Breaking Ties

“My genetic material.”

Whisper frowned, and then her eyes went wide. “No way.”

He chuckled. “It has been used recently by an elder. It is effective in bringing a consort back from the edge of death.”

Whisper grimaced. “When I find out all the details, how irritated will I be?”

“Going off Harwin and Aubrey as examples, fairly irritated. Things might be thrown, and I will learn your curse repertoire.”

“Sounds delightful.”

“I look forward to it.”

“So where is the academy?”

“Not too far from Vress’s system. The academy uses one world for education, one for training, and the others for foraging and hunting. The others have not yet been adapted for our purposes.”

Whisper nodded, and then they were on the upper level where Harwin and Ra were cuddling without the baby. Aubrey and Vress were nowhere to be seen.

Harwin grinned. “Nice makeover.”

“Thanks. I am not shiny or anything, but I think it’s okay. How would you describe the skin?”

“Starlight. Moonlight. You are shiny, babe.”

“Dammit.”

Nerigot laughed. “It explained why the oracle saw pale limbs under me and nothing more specific.”

Whisper covered her face. “Good grief.”

The Hmrain laughed, and when Vress and Aubrey returned, Vress had a good laugh as well. Whisper and Harwin went for a slow walk. Aubrey and her newly butt-length hair joined them as they looked out at the sand and the growing green spaces that were springing up.

Whisper asked, “Do you think you are truly happy out here? Either of you?”

Harwin said, “Truth is in the eye of the beholder, as is happiness. There isn’t one part of my current life that I would change. I have even gotten used to the outfits.”

Aubrey chuckled. “I picked my own style at first, but now Vress is enjoying playing dolly dress-up. That’s going to change when I have to play oracle. I am not going to wear peep-show outfits.”

Whisper smiled. “They aren’t that bad. Nothing a stiff breeze can’t destroy.”

Aubrey laughed. “Exactly. I am liking the tunic-and-trouser look. Nice and covering.”

“Yup. And it is mine until I end up as an acolyte. After that, I think I am hooped.”

Harwin smiled. “Why then?”

“Because that is the point where I have to listen to what he says. After that, I am in trouble. Do you have any idea how hard it will be to curb my tongue?”

Harwin cackled, and Aubrey snickered.

Harwin grinned. “I have some idea. Ra just rolls with it and then finds a new outfit with minimal fabric.”

Aubrey blinked. “Well, fuck. That explains a lot. Right now, Vress is giving me outfits with a lot of ties, and he knots them and then gives me a time limit before he helps.”

Whisper chuckled. “And then I came in and ruined his dastardly plan by untangling them.”

The oracle stood there and smiled slightly at her new friend. “I did not see that one coming.”